IDEA Recovery Funds for Services to Children and Youths with Disabilities

1. IDEA Recovery Funds for Services to Children and Youths with Disabilities | May 20, 2009

2. Goals of the ARRA • Spend funds quickly to save and create jobs • Improve student achievement through school improvement and reform • Ensure transparency, reporting, and accountability • Invest one-time ARRA funds thoughtfully to minimize the “funding cliff”. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

3. When to use… Allowable funds can be used during the 08-09 fiscal year, however, for the purposes of calculating MOE, CEIS and proportionate share, the total amount of stimulus money will be applied for 2009-2010. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

4. Possible Uses of ARRA Funds • Obtain state-of-the art assistive technology devices and provide training in their use to enhance access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities. • Provide intensive district-wide professional development for special education and regular education teachers that focuses on scaling-up, through replication, proven and innovative evidence-based school-wide strategies in reading, math, writing and science, and positive behavioral supports to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

5. Possible Uses of ARRA Funds • Develop or expand the capacity to collect and use data to improve teaching and learning. • Expand the availability and range of inclusive placement options for preschoolers with disabilities by developing the capacity of public and private preschool programs to serve these children. • Hire transition coordinators to work with employers in the community to develop job placements for youths with disabilities. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

6. Possible Uses of ARRA Funds • Improving the equitable distribution of effective teachers within a school system. • Establish and expand fiscally sustainable extended learning opportunities in schools (such as extended day and extended year programs). American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

7. Possible Uses of ARRA Funds • Establish intensive, year long professional development that focuses on…training veteran teachers in ways to improve services for students with disabilities within the regular classroom, such as training in RTI (Response to Intervention), autism and other significant disabilities. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

8. Possible Uses of ARRA Funds • Provide intensive parent training to help parents support their children in meeting the challenges of Tennessee’s more rigorous standards. • Purchasing Academic Tools to assist students with disabilities with passing achievement/EOC tests. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

9. Possible Uses of ARRA Funds • Establish a mentorship program to decrease the drop out rate….increase graduation rate. • Provide tutoring programs, before, during and after school. • Funds used to prevent the lay-off of special education teachers and related service personnel needed to provide the services outlined in student IEP’s. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

10. Possible Uses of ARRA Funds • Employ experts, consultants or specialists in autism or low incidence disabilities. • Develop Instructional Consultation Teams to assist students with disabilities. • Improve services to students in Alternative Schools, i.e., instructional materials, staffing etc. • Related Services personnel. Note: If the LEA chooses to use the 50% (Permissive Use of Funds) these suggestions can be used system-wide. If not, these suggestions pertain only to IDEA Part B regulations. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

11. Reduction in Maintenance of Effort (MOE) • An LEA may be able to reduce the level of state and local expenditures otherwise required by the IDEA LEA maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements. Generally, under section 613(a)(2)(C), in any fiscal year that an LEA’s IDEA allocation exceeds the amount the LEA received in the previous year, under certain circumstances, the LEA may reduce the level of state and local expenditures by up to 50 percent of the amount of the increase, as long as the LEA uses those freed-up local funds for activities that could be supported under the ESEA. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

12. Reduction in Maintenance of Effort (MOE)Permissive use of funds adjustment to local effort In FY 2010, ABC School System received from IDEA and ARRA funds a total Part B allocation of: $600,000 In FY 2009, the school system received a Part B allocation of: $400,000 ________ Total increase in federal IDEA funding from FY09 to FY2010 is: $200,000 50 % of that increase is: $100,000 FROM ABOVE: To determine the amount available to the school system for local effort, subtract the FY 2009 allocation from the FY 2010 allocation to determine the increase in federal funds ($200,000). Of this increase, the LEA may take 50% ($100,000) for use as local funds as long as the activities are authorized under ESEA. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

13. Reduction in Maintenance of Effort (MOE) • If an LEA takes advantage of this provision, the required MOE for future years is reduced consistent with the reduction it took, unless the LEA increases the amount of its state and local expenditures on its own. • LEAs will be expected to collect and report information on the use of the freed-up funds. • LEAs will be required to report publicly how these funds are expended on a regular basis. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans

14. How were compliance with State/Federal indicators determined? Each LEA was monitored using the 9 indicators. These indicators will be used to determine whether or not an LEA meets State/Federal requirements for FY ’08…..

15. The indicators are: • Indicator 4: Suspension/Expulsion • Indicator 9: Disproportionality by race/ethnicity • Indicator 10: Disproportionality by Disability area • Indicator 11: Child Find • Indicator 12: Transition from Part C to B

16. Indicators cont’d • Indicator 13: Secondary Transition • Indicator 15: Timely correction of noncompliance • Indicator 15a: Noncompliant and uncorrected A-133 Audit Findings • Indicator 15b: Uncorrected Noncompliance from other sources(i.e, fiscal monitoring) • Indicator 20: Valid and reliable, and timely data • Any other outstanding audit reports

17. If you recall, an letter of determination for FY ’08 was received by your district in December of ’08 and addressed indicators 4, 9 and 10. However recent guidance from the US Office of Education indicated that we have to address all of the compliance indicators in our letters of determination.

18. Each District has been reviewed and a revised letter of determination is being forwarded to you. You should receive your letter no later than the first of next week.

19. Contact Information Division of Special Education Tennessee Department of Education Joseph Fisher Nan McKerley Kathi Rowe 615-741-3340 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Speed economic recovery ▪ Create and save jobs ▪ Provide needed services to Tennesseans